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Committee adds reporting requirement, forwards HSH behested-payment waiver extension
Summary
The committee voted to amend and forward a resolution allowing Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing leaders to solicit donations under a behested-payment waiver, adding a 60‑day reporting requirement for donations solicited under the waiver.
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee voted Nov. 20 to amend and forward a resolution authorizing the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) executive director and senior leaders to solicit donations notwithstanding the city’s behested‑payment ordinance, adding a requirement that HSH report donations to the Board of Supervisors within 60 days of the waiver’s expiration.
HSH Executive Director Sherry McSpadden told the committee the waiver "remains essential for our ability to fundraise, explore philanthropic partnerships, and to coordinate private support that expands the reach of and fills gaps for San Francisco's homelessness response system." She cited the city’s most recent point‑in‑time count, saying, "The 2024 point in time count found that 8,323 people experiencing homelessness, more than half of whom, 52 percent, were unsheltered." McSpadden listed prior uses of the waiver, including connecting funders to the Rafael House expansion (which resulted in 24 new family shelter beds) and coordinating an $11,000,000 prevention pilot intended to reach 1,500 families.
The amendment introduced by Chair Jackie Fielder requires HSH to submit a report on any donations solicited under the waiver that includes donor name, donation amount and the donor’s relationship as an "interested party." The committee voted on the amendment with Vice Chair Janie Sauter, Member Sherrill and Chair Fielder recorded as voting aye, and the amendment passed. Chair Fielder then moved to forward the item to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation; the committee again recorded three ayes and approved forwarding the resolution.
A member of the public, Taylor Jackson, identified as an intern for the Kansas City mayor and a member of that city’s planning council, spoke in support of the ordinance during the public‑comment period.
McSpadden said the department will file its report for the previous waiver on or before Dec. 15, and stressed HSH’s commitment to transparency: "Under the legislation, HSH must report all donations solicited under the waiver, including donor name, donation amount, and interested party relationship." She also stated that no HSH employee covered by the waiver is a recipient of the funds.
Next steps: the committee forwarded the amended resolution to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration at its Dec. 2 agenda, per committee practice.
